Coming Up With Business Ideas

The 7 Steps of the Creative Process Used in Spurring Innovation

Innovation is often something academics write about but is hard to put into practice. This article contains seven specific steps to help you spur innovation in your company.

Innovation can be realized in either of two ways i.e. the introduction of a solution that is highly creative and the modification of an existent solution to come up with an adapted solution.
(article continues below)

Creativity can however be increased through a combination of the two using the creative process which is composed of seven individual steps.

Creativity and innovation, creativity, innovation

1. Preparation – This is the first stage at which the base for creativity and innovation is defined; the mind is prepared for subsequent use in creative thinking. During preparation the individual is encouraged to appreciate the fact that every opportunity provides situations that can educate and experiences from which to learn.

The creativity aspect is kindled through a quest to become more knowledgeable. This can be done through reading about various topics and/or subjects and engaging in discussions with others. Taking part in brainstorming sessions in various forums like professional and trade association seminars, and taking time to study other countries and cultures to identify viable opportunities is also part of preparation. Of importance is the need to cultivate a personal ability to listen and learn from others.

2. Investigation – This stage of enhancing entrepreneurial creativity and innovation involves the business owner taking time to study the problem at hand and what its various components are.

3. Transformation – The information thus accumulated and acquired should then be subjected to convergent and divergent thinking which will serve to highlight the inherent similarities and differences. Convergent thinking will help identify aspects that are similar and connected while divergent thinking will highlight the differences. This twin manner of thinking is of particular importance in realizing creativity and innovation for the following reasons:

- One will be able to skim the details and see what the bigger picture is
- The situation/problem's components can be reordered and in doing so new patterns can be identified
- It will help visualize a number of approaches that can be used to simultaneously tackle the problem and the opportunity
- One's decision-making abilities will be bettered such that the urge to make snap decisions will be resisted

4. Incubation – At this stage in the quest for creativity and innovation it is imperative that the subconscious reflect on the accumulated information, i.e. through incubation, and this can be improved or augmented when the entrepreneur:

- Engages in an activity completely unrelated to the problem/opportunity under scrutiny
- Takes time to daydream i.e. letting the mind roam beyond any restrictions self-imposed or otherwise
- Relax and play
- Study the problem/opportunity in a wholly different environment

5. llumination – This happens during the incubation stage and will often be spontaneous. The realizations from the past stages combine at this instance to form a breakthrough.

6. Verification – This is where the entrepreneur attempts to ascertain whether the creativity of thought and the action of innovation are truly effective as anticipated. It may involve activities like simulation, piloting, prototype building, test marketing, and various experiments. While the tendency to ignore this stage and plunge headlong with the breakthrough may be tempting, the transformation stage (3rd) should ensure that the new idea is put to the test.

7. Implementation – This is where the product of creativity and innovation is made into a reality and it's what defines the difference between inventors and entrepreneurs.

Samuel Muriithi is a business owner in Nairobi, Kenya. He has extensive international business experience in the United States and India.

Conversation Board

We greatly appreciate any advice you can provide on this topic. Please contribute your insights on this topic so others can benefit.